Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-07-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondent.

among many of the Department
clerks as a reduced legislative appro-
priation bill makes necessary cor
responding reduction in the clerical
force of the Government, and it is
certain that shower of official heads
will fall in the departmental waste
baskst. For this reason not a few
clerks have deferred taking their
usual leave, not wishing to be too far
away from their influential friends on
this dread day. At this time, too, the
presence of an unusually large num-
Der of Congressman in the city is due
to desire to protect their proteges.
One day this week the Department
of Justice was draped in mourning in
memory of James Speed, Attorney
General in President Lincoln's Cabi-
net. Mr.. Speed was steadfast Re-
publican until 1884, when he repented
of his evil political associations ways
and redeemed himself by enlisting in
the columns of Cleveland and Hen
bricks.
If there has been few thousand
such women on the Union side as she
OF whom l now write, the civil war
would not have lasted two years.
This lady, Mrs. Brown, of West
Virginia, has borne in all thirty-three
children, twenty of the number being
boys, sixteen of whom served in the
Union Army, of which number but
two were killed; each of the other
fourteen draws a pension from the
Government for disabilities received in
service and the death of two sons also
entities the mother to pension. Gen.
Black says the files of the Office fail to
show another record where the six
teen sons of one father and mother
served in the late war.
The military spirit lately infused
into the citizens of Washington is still
rife, as is evidenced by the organiza-
ton of three or four militia companies
during the past month, which have
been formed into a " National Guard"
under the direction and command of
Gen. Ordway, so that in case of for
eign invasion or civil conflict the
Capital of the Nation would be able
to furnish many defenders from its
own firesides.
1t is a matter of history that the
original Grand Army of the Republic
was almost disrupted, that its influ-
ence and usefulness was impaired, and
that he had to be reorganized because
its managers unwisely permitted it to
be turned into partisan Republican
machine. 1t now seems that history is
about to repeat itself in this instance,
as Gen. Fairchild, its Commander-in-
Chief, says that the financial work of
the last year was the drafting of the
Department Pension Bill. A bill has
been made out and sent to all of the
posts for approval, those of this city
having given their endorsement, anoth-
er attempt will be made to haul mil
lions out of the Treasury. Then the
Tuttle and battle-flag episodes con-
sidered in the same connection seem
to clearly foreshadow a political con-
spiracy in the Grand Army. There
fore advise Democratic members Of
the G. A. r. to keep sharp eye on
their Republican brethren all along
the line.
Report has it that there is serious
arrangement between the President
and Secretary Endicott. That the
resignation of the man of ancient and
illustrious lineage has been called for,
and will be forthcoming within thirty
days. 1t is thought the last difference
arose out of the Secretary's hasty ac-
ton in advising the return of the bat
tle-fags, although l am informed that
there has long been a painful lack of
cordiality between the two gentlemen,
and that anybody else but the Secre-
tary would have resigned at almost
any time in the past six months.
These days about every third Con-
gresham or Ex-Congressman who
enters the Office of Secretary Lamar is
at once bulletined in the newspapers
as his successor, it being generally as,
sumed that the Secretary will take his
seat ON the Supreme Bench in Octo'
Der, at which time, think the ap'
pointment will be announced and ac
cepted, for who can afford TO decline
an honor SO exalted? All this sum
mer l believe the President will bt
canvassing for suitable Secretary O
the Interior, and there can be little
doubt, that in the exercise of his usua
; sound judgment, he will find the righ
, man for the place.
1t is quite likely that the Presiden
and Mrs. Cleveland will take anothel
pleasure trip in July, and that thu
two expect to celebrate Mrs. Cleve
, lands twenty-third birthday occurring
: on July 21st, in some quiet mountain
retreat of the Old Dominion"
: The Commissioners of the Distric
of Columbia have issued revised Sc
of ordinances for the government o
e the citizens of Washington, regulat
: ing everybody and everything from
the Growing Of cock to the shootini